What's Worth The Read & What's Not
Books are the one area of my life that I never try and declutter. From as long as I can remember I’ve longed for a library like that scene in Beauty & The Beast. Obviously, that is never going to happen but I do like to have my most loved books around me. I’m currently working on giving the ones I know that I will never read again to charity but I do keep the majority of the books I buy as they’re all so special to me. Anyway, today’s post is one that I’ve had in the back of my mind for a while as I know that I for one am terrible for falling into the trap of book hype and quite often they’re not all they’re cracked up to be.
HARRY POTTER SERIES - J.K. ROWLING
Before I became absolutely obsessed with Harry Potter my biggest book love was anything from Jacqueline Wilson, I still remember my most loved reads from her now. But Harry Potter is my childhood in a book, I remember getting the first 3 as a birthday present and I absolutely devoured them and from then on every year I would wait patiently for the next release, going to Tesco at midnight with my parents to pick up a first edition. Each summer I would start the series from the beginning and it doesn’t matter how many times I’ve read them, they’re still as magical as they were from day one. I’m sure I don’t need to explain the premise of Harry Potter at this point but if you’ve never read the books and only watched the films I urge you to pick them up. There is no book series like it and it’s something that I cannot wait to pass down to my children (if I choose to have them).
worth the read: yes
EAT PRAY LOVE - ELIZABETH GILBERT
How many times have you seen this book mentioned amongst women in films? A lot, I imagine and after hearing about it so many times I knew that it had to go on my to read list. I read this a few years ago now and I really did enjoy this book, I’ve not seen the film so I can’t comment on that but I have to say that I’m always team book when it comes to any adaptations. Eat Pray Love follows Elizabeth (it’s about the author) and the book begins with her in Brooklyn feeling the stress and strain of trying for a child and being married when she doesn’t really want any of it deep down. She decides to travel in order to search for the things that she’s missing and slowly and surely she finds them but in ways she never expected. My favourite chapter is Italy, it's so beautifully written and I know that this is a book that I will eventually read again as it’s so honest and raw.
worth the read: yes
LITTLE WOMEN - LOUISA MAY ALCOTT
I won’t deny that the reason I wanted to read this book is because of the beautiful cover, it’s a Rifle Paper Co edition and it still sits so proudly on my shelves today. Again Little Women, is one of those books that you often hear being referenced in films and tv shows. Surely most of you guys will know that episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S where Joey has to put the book in the freezer? Little Women follows 4 sisters Jo, Amy, Meg, and Beth and it’s a real coming of age story and follows the sisters through many trials and tribulations. I think what I love about this book the most is that it feels very real, there are practical life lessons that we can all take guidance from and I love any book like that. I will admit that this book is a little difficult to get into at first, I had regularly Google words that were used to get used to the vocabulary but once you’re immersed in the book and Alcott’s style of writing it’s a beautiful read.
worth the read: yes
on the road - jack kerouac
I’d always heard amazing things about On The Road, it felt like one of those books that I just had to read. I was so disappointed when I read this, I didn’t and still don’t understand what all the fuss is about when it comes to this cult classic. On The Road follows Dean and then Sal, they travel across the USA together and then split off at various points to chase their individual dreams and then join back up. Although I do enjoy the way that this has been laid out I didn’t enjoy the story in the slightest. The writing was super long-winded and rambly, which made it hard to follow and there is nothing worse than feeling lost the entire way through a book. OTR is very much driven in the details so you have to pay serious attention, I might go back to it again at some point to see if it’s maybe more enjoyable the second time.
worth the read: no
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE - JANE AUSTEN
You can probably tell, I’ve got a real thing for reading classics. I was never into them much as a child so I only properly started reading them in adult life and there are still so many I want to get ticked off my never-ending to-read list. Pride and Prejudice was a book that I was so excited to read, it’s such a cult classic but I have never found a book so hard to read as I have this and I think it took me 3 attempts to even get into it. From the writing style to the story, it just wasn’t for me at all. The way that this book is written isn’t engaging for me in the slightest, I didn’t find myself ever truly immersed in the story as it took so long to explain anything. Part of me is so disappointed that I didn’t like this book as like I said, it’s such a famous book but it’s just not for me. Much like On The Road I found it heavily relied on small details and whilst descriptions are important for any story it was just a little too much.
worth the read: no
BLOGGER HYPED BOOKS
Not That Kind Of Girl - Lena Dunham: No
How To Be Parisian - Sophie Mas: No
Pretty Honest - Sali Hughes: Yes
Quiet - Susan Cain: Yes
Milk and Honey - Rupi Kaur: Yes
Get Your Sh*t Together - Sarah Knight: No
